Preliminary numbers show that throughout October, the first month of Florida’s texting while driving ban, only 45 Miami-Dade drivers were ticketed for the offense, the highest number statewide. Coming in second was Palm Beach County, with 16 drivers nailed.
The law makes texting while driving a "secondary" offense, meaning a police officer would have to pull over a driver for some other violation, like not wearing a seatbelt, in order to issue a ticket. Triple-A Florida spokeswoman Karen Morgan says the low numbers illustrate why Florida should make texting while driving a primary offense.“In other states with primary texting bans, we see healthier ticketing numbers", Morgan said. "That’s not to say there still wouldn’t be challenges for law enforcement. However, a strong law sends a clear message that this is risky behavior.”
And two South Florida Democrats are among those vowing to strengthen Florida’s law. Boca Raton Representative Irv Slosberg and Delray Beach Senator Maria Sachs, say they’re working to upgrade texting while driving to a primary offense.